“I reckon the scallywags count on starving us out,” concluded Mr. Jameson.
“But how did you get out to reach the boat? It was kept a mile up the coast.”
“Oh, aye. Well, I climbed over the stockade, d’ye ken, and made me way to the bit boat wi’oot trouble.”
Thus did Jameson describe what must have been an act fraught with peril, for he had had to pass through the rebel lines. Mr. Chadwick felt this.
“I wish you would tell us all, James Jameson,” he said.
“Hoot, toot! I tole ye all. No use wasting words, mon.”
“So that is the situation?” mused Mr. Chadwick. “Well, that’s about as bad as it can be. When do you think they will make the attack?”
“I dinna ken; but I think to-night. They ken there is gold in the safe, for it would be pay day the noo. But then they ken we hae a machine gun, too, and they’re canny afraid of thot, I’m thinkin’.”
“I’m glad of that. But where are the regulars?”
“There are some troops above Santiago, Mr. Chadwick, but not enough to fight their way through that boilin’ of rebels. The callants all hae Remingtons, too, and some of the regular troops haven’t even guns.”
“That’s bad. Then the men inside are penned in without much hope of getting out alive unless we bring relief.”
“But how is it going to be done?” asked Mr. Chadwick with a trace of irritation in his voice at the calmness of the Scot superintendent. “We cannot leave those men in there to perish.”
“But the troops are not strong enough to cut their way through the rebel ranks?”
“I’m no sayin’ they aren’t, and I’m no sayin’ they are.”
“Upon my word, Jameson, can’t you suggest something except just to stand there and negative suggestions?”
“I’m thinkin’ I’ve done some work to-night, Mr. Chadwick,” was the dignified reply.
“You’re right, you have,” exclaimed Mr. Chadwick contritely; “forgive me, Jameson, but I’m overwrought and nervous. But can’t we try the troops from the outside?”
“Eet would be of no use whatever, Meester Chadwick, and that’s the Laird’s own truth. There’s one way to drive those rascally rebels to the woods, though.”
“To get the government troops on the inside. We could cut the rebels up a bit wi’ the machine gun and put the fear of the Laird in their hearts, and then charge ’em from inside the stockade.”